Improvement in bed-bottoms



J. O. GORDON. Bed-Bottom.

No. 213,561. Patent d Mar. 25, 1879.

Wilm /5,8 e p.-

N.PE|'ER8, PHOTO'LITNOMAMDL WASHINGTON D C- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN C. GORDON, OF UHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BED-BOTTOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,561, dated March 25, 1879; application filed January 27, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. GORDON, of Gharlottesville, in the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and nsefullmprovements in Bed-Bottoms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bed-bottoms, and especially that class that are used in lying-in hospitals; and it consists in making the slats of thin iron, fastening the shucks directly thereto, and providing each one with journals, and then connecting them together by a rod, so that they can be made to incline toward either the head or foot of the bed by a single movement of a hand-lever.

It further consists in forming the mattress of shucks, which are sewed or bound to the slats, and which project upward at an angle in a line with the slats, and bear against each other in such a manner as to form a soft even bed without being inclosed in the usual ticking, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

My aim is to construct a bed of shucks alone, so that when soiled they can be quickly removed and readily replaced by others, and in which the shucks can be instantly turned should they begin to pack together so as to feel hard to the one lying upon them.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, and Fig. 2 is an inverted view of the same.

a represents a common bedstead of any desired size, and which has a supporting-bar, c, secured to each of its inner sides, which bars have a number of circular recesses in their upper edges, equidistant apart. The slats d are made of thin iron plates, or any other suit-- able material, having journals at each of their ends, which journals have their bearings upon the bars 0. Through each slot are made a number of small holes, through which are passed the strings that bind the shucks e to each side of every slat. Projecting downward from the lower edge of each slat is an arm, g, which arms have their lower ends pivoted in a groove in the upper edge of the connecting rod or bar h by means of the spring-fastenin gs t, as shown. This connecting-rod h is fastened to the hand-lever lby means of a rod, 0, so that by moving the outer end of the lever to either side the upper edges of the slats will all be made to move in an opposite direction.

The shucks 0 will be made of such a length that the upper ends of each row will rest against those of the next adjoining row, as shown, whether the slats are made to incline toward the head or the foot of the bed, and thus will form a mattress without the help of the usual tick.

The upper ends of the shucks, secured to one side of the slats, should be so cut that when turned in one direction they will form a perfectly flat and level surface, and the ends of the shucks secured to the opposite sides should be cut in the opposite direction, so that they will also form a fiat surface when turned, so that they can be laid upon.

By thus providing each slat with journals and connecting them all together, so that they will sweep through about a quarter of a circle, and having the shucks fastened to each slat extend outward in a line with the slat, it will be readily seen that whether the shucks are turned toward the head or foot of the bed they form a soft level bed. Should they begin to pack from being laid upon, or should the person desire to lie with the head in the opposite direction, a single movement of the hand-lever will cause the shucks to be turned in an opposite direction, and thus present a soft new surface to the body.

When the slats are so turned that their edges are vertical the shucks will project upward without coming in contact with each other, and thus can be aired or pulled apart when they begin to pack, so as to be made as soft as ever.

Should these shucks become foul or soiled, it is only necessary to cut the string which binds them, and then replace them by others.

Although only shucks are here shown and described, it is evident that any other mate rial may be used, if so desired; but it is thought that shucks are the most practical.

directly to the slats, as shown, and shaping the upper ends of the shucks so that they will form an even flat surface, whether inclined toward the head or foot of the bed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 1 have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of January, 1879.

'JNO. C. GORDON.

Witnesses L. T. HAMAKEL, W. R. BURNLEY. 

